This Independence Day I Need ‘Freedom’ From These 12 Things!

Happy Independence Day!

Or not.

We are in 21st century and while the whole country is celebrating its Independence Day, we are here still wondering if we really are independent. Team POPxo weighs their opinions on 12 things we need freedom from this year and while, some of the points raised here might seem trivial, they are just as important as the other significant issues women face in our country. So go ahead and tell us if you agree with us.

1. Freedom to Express an Opinion

Why do people attack a woman for having opinions? When did having opinions equal being opinionated? Thankfully some women are setting an example of freedom. When a woman is harassed in the middle of the night in Chandigarh, she isn’t deterred in the slightest by the perpetrator’s far-reaching influence or the police’s apparent dismissal of her case. And many more women have raised their torches and joined her in the quest for justice. 

– Amrita Paul, Junior Lifestyle Editor

2. Freedom from being explained GoT episodes by my guy friends aka mansplaining

By now, I’m sure you’re familiar with the word mansplaining. It’s one thing EVERY girl has faced without even realizing, and no, I’m not just talking about GoT. It’s everywhere and now that we know it exists, it’s time we free ourselves from it.

– Shivani Shrivastava, Trending Editor

3. Freedom from stereotyping our mood swings as PMS!

I strongly believe that we all can have multiple reasons for our mood swings and stereotype the mood swings as PMS is the most annoying thing EVER! Men who do that are ignorant. Women should be able to freely express her moods without the judgment of it being labeled as ‘PMS’.

– Arushi Sakhuja, Editorial Coordinator

4. Freedom from – ‘Do you really want to eat that?’

There have been witness accounts of me lovingly crooning sweet nothings to my fries, and making lustful noises for a sinful peanut butter oreo frappe. In the words of Anton Ego: I don’t like food, I LOVE IT! We really don’t care if it’s only a ‘moment on our lips and forever on our hips’. I’d really appreciate it if people stopped telling each other what to eat because I am certain I speak for a lot of us when I quote Joey: WE ARE CURVY AND WE LIKE IT!

– Nancy Varghese, Travel Writer

5. Freedom from getting the ‘perfect’ winged eyeliner

I strongly believe a perfect winged eyeliner is a myth. I have never seen one in 23 years of my life. And instead of wasting two hours of my morning trying to get it right but ending up looking like a raccoon, I’d rather just do away with the concept altogether!

– Isheeta Sharma, Junior Lifestyle Editor

6. Freedom to feel comfortable in my own skin

We have all encountered random advice from people and of course, those backhanded compliments are a dime a dozen. This independence day, let an alien ship abduct these aunties and uncles and give them a brain!

– Kannagi Desai, Junior Beauty Editor

7. Freedom from the ‘Drinking age is 25’ limit!

At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and beer. Oh! I mean freedom. Freedom from the question that stops my buzz before I get any – ‘Can I see your ID, ma’am?’. While the world drinks at 21 (and some at 18, BTW), as a  Delhiite I still can’t (legally) enjoy my Saturday night until I’m 25. Well, guess what? Beer is my birthright, and I shall have it! Who’s with me, eh?

– Sayunkta Jain, Editorial Coordinator

8. Freedom from wearing a bra

Only a girl knows the freedom she feels once a bra comes off after a long day at work. I want to go braless but I can’t because if I do, I’ll have to cover myself with a dupatta when the delivery boy is standing at my door. As a man peeping in…is okay but me sitting braless at my home is not or so are we told.

– Chhavi Porwal, Senior Trending Writer

9. Freedom from that ‘shaadi ultimatum’

I wish deadlines would just stay limited to college assignments! This Independence Day, I am hoping to be dread-free after hitting the big ol’ 23, and not get rushed to the mandap in my ripped jeans and ratty old converse!

– Sumona Bose, Fashion Writer

10. Freedom from ‘sit like a lady’

I wish people would stop telling girls to ‘sit like a lady’. What does that mean, anyway? Girls should be free to sit the way they want – legs open, legs on the table or legs closed.

– Sonali Pawar, Beauty Writer & Editorial Coordinator

11. Freedom to choose when I want to have kids

‘Beta now it’s your turn to give the good news,’ a statement I’ve often heard from random aunties and uncles soon after my sister gave birth to her beautiful twins. The point is, having a child is a process that involves only me and my husband and we’re the only two people who’ll take that decision. Not anyone else. Let’s learn to respect that, shall we?

– Manasvi Jaitly, Wedding Editor

12. Freedom To Keep My Surname After Marriage

It is a given that a girl will change her surname after marriage. This Independence Day, I want all girls to be given the freedom to choose their surname after marriage and not have it enforced upon them to change it. After all, I’ve lived for 25 years with my name, why will I suddenly want a new one now?

-Srishti Gupta, Senior Lifestyle Writer